Thatscricket - News - SA team begins preparing in right earnest for new season

Johannesburg: The South African national cricket squad has begun preparing for the new season which includes a crucial series against Australia, at the end of the year.Team coach Graham Ford announced a practice session next month ahead of the Zimbabwe tour in September. He has issued instructions to the team members to follow individually designed fitness programmes prepared by experts at the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA).The tour to Zimbabwe will be followed by the home series against India inOctober-November. The series against arch rivals Australia follows the Indian tour. Convener of the South African selectors, Rushdi Magiet, said the team for Zimbabwe would be announced next month.Meanwhile, South African middle-order batsman Daryll Cullinan has beencontacted by Ford to check his availability for the forthcoming tour.Cullinan's contract was not renewed by the UCBSA last month, as he hadsigned up with the English county side Kent. But a fortnight ago hiscontract with Kent ended by mutual agreement because of a knee injury thatrequires three months rest.Following reports of Cullinan being appointed as a batting coach at Kent,Magiet said Cullinan's inclusion was still an uncertainty.IANS